Top Headlines of the Week

Patch breaks down the top stories leading with a man who killed animals in Lakewood to stand trial.

Is The Lakewood City Government Keeping A Hidden Agenda?

The Camp Murray gate continues to be a hot-button issue.

Primary Election: Where Can I Drop Off My Ballot?

West Pierce Fire & Rescue is offering a box for voters who want to drop off their ballots. Lakewood residents will not have to decide who moves onto the general election in September.

High-Speed Railway Continues To Worry Lakewood Folks

The proposed Point Defiance Bypass train route, if approved, would route Amtrak passenger trains through Lakewood and Tillicum en route to Portland.

Dispatches: The Changing American Dream

Our Dispatches will chronicle both the positive and negative effects of the economic crisis and the creative and innovative ways people all across the country are responding to it.

Waughop Lake Closed Because of Toxic Algae

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department shut down the lake because toxic levels of an algae could pose risk to animals and humans. Boating, swimming and fishing has been banned indefinitely.

Lakewood Says No to Medical Marijuana

City officials are not interested in issuing business licenses for collective gardens or any illegal act under federal law.

Meet Incoming City Councilman Paul Bocchi

Lakewood resident believes his work experience in both the private and public sectors gives him a unique perspective on what makes both sectors work and what challenges they are facing.

Tillicum Residents Rally, Attack Proposed Camp Murray Gate Relocation

Affected citizens and business owners speak out against the city's move to shift traffic farther into the neighborhood.

Meet the King and Queen of the Cribs

Social Security has announced the top baby names for boys and girls in 2010 for both the country and Washington State.

ELECTION 2011: What To Expect With This Year's Ballot In Pierce County

What is new in this year's Pierce County election?

Letter to the Editor: Lakewood Resident Frustruated About Camp Murray Relocation Proposal

A rally is scheduled at City Hall at 7 p.m. by Community Matters, a civic engagement group in Tillicum. Everyone is welcomed to attend.

Meet Clover Park School Board Incumbent Paul Wagemann

Wagemann is the only school-board member facing opposition in the November election – Janet Caldwell,

County Council Sends Regional Dispatch Measure To November Ballot

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department and West Pierce Fire & Rescue have both signed onto the proposed South Sound 911 system.

Tillicum Residents Raise Concern About Camp Murray Gate

Lakewood's Brightest Star is announced, city meets with property owners of Lakewood Towne Center and more.

Can You Guess These Photos in Lakewood?

The results of the second round of Where's Patch will determine the winner in our new photo contest.

Tillicum Residents Balk At Camp Murray's Gate Proposal

Plans to relocate the National Guard's main entrance to Portland Avenue and Berkeley Street drew stiff criticism at two public meetings in Lakewood.

Camp Murray Gate: Is Shifting the Main Entrance to Portland Avenue an Acceptable Alternative?

A pair of public meetings are scheduled today to discuss the proposal. City Councilmembers are withholding their thoughts until more information comes out.

Pierce Transit Conducting Its Third Round Of Service Cuts

The agency says it will have 20 percent less staff and 30 percent less management by the end of the year.

Businesses - Have You Taken The 2011 Job Sector Survey?

The survey, which is intended to help officials and their economic development-related decisions, is being distributed to businesses in Pierce, King, Kitsap and Snohomish Counties.

Monday Is Deadline to Register for Next Month's Primary Election

Online and mail-in options are available through Secretary of State website. There are several key races throughout Pierce County.

Wars Bring Names to Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Most names come from World War I, but the tradition continues.

Meet Don Anderson, Lakewood City Councilmember

Anderson returns for his second term as deputy mayor. One of his reasons he filed for reelection is to enhance a business friendly environment that enables employers to thrive and create jobs in his community. His seat is unchallenged.

Lakewood Couple Indicted By Grand Jury With 20 Counts of Health Care Fraud, Obstruction of Justice and Money Laundering

Indictment alleges Chans medical clinic conspired to bill Medicare and other government and private healthcare programs for larger amounts of medicine than were actually delivered to patients, totaling $1.7 million in illegal income.

New County Council Boundaries OK'd for Pierce County

Three months of work by the bipartisan Districting Committee ended Tuesday with a 3-2 split vote and allegations of Democratic gerrymandering. The changes go into effect for the 2012 County Council election.

Redistricting Meeting Tonight; Decision Expected

The Pierce County Redistricting Committee is scheduled to make a decision on a new plan that sets the districts for the next 10 years. Under the proposal, Joint Base Lewis-McChord would be separate from neighboring communities of Lakewood and DuPont.

Opening Candidate Forum Brings Thorny Questions Into Focus in 2011 Lakewood City Council Race

Three unopposed candidates were grilled for nearly two hours during a public forum at the Tillicum/American Gardens Community Service Center Thursday night. On hand was incumbent Don Anderson and Lakewood residents Marie Barth and Paul Bocchi.

New Pierce County Bike Map Available

Map includes updates to Gig Harbor Cushman Trail and Tacoma Water Ditch Trail.

Pierce County Council District Boundaries Could Be Done Deal

While formal consensus has not been reached yet on the four current proposals for re-drawing the seven districts, whatever staff recommendation Districting Committee members receive June 28 essentially will determine the boundaries for the next 10 years.

Meet Marie Barth, Incoming Lakewood City Councilwoman

Lakewood resident is going to ponder what's best for the city while stepping in as one of the new Councilmembers.

Update: Two Men Arrested in Seattle Terror Plot Originally Targeted Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif and Walli Mujahidh were arrested Wednesday night for allegedly plotting to attack a Seattle military processing center.

Marathon Sessions Fail To Produce Agreement On Pierce County Voting Districts

The Pierce County Districting Committee, charged with re-drawing the seven County Council districts, has been wrestling for months with four proposals. Committee members have until July 28 to make a decision.

Smoother Sailing On Westbound Highway 16 Viaduct Begins This Weekend

The $120 million project's completion means southbound cars on Interstate 5 won't have to weave between lanes just to exit, and northbound will cross the freeway via a bridge that connects westbound.

State Liquor Stores to Expand Hours

Effective July 1, all state-run stores will be open until 9 p.m. most days.

Final List of Lakewood Residents Running for Public Office

Most residents are running unopposed in the 2011 election process.

After the Merger: A Historical Look at West Pierce Fire Services

Lakewood Historical Society takes a look at the long history of the West Pierce Fire & Rescue, up to and including the merger earlier this year.

Lakewood 101 Meeting Gives Perspective On How City Operates

City Manager Andrew Neiditz and others delve into their roles as local government leaders, current and upcoming challenges they are faced with.

IRS Strips Lakewood CARES of Nonprofit Status

More than 600 nonprofits across Washington state lose their designation, 15 within Lakewood.

WSDOT Traffic Alert: Plan ahead for Interstate 5 Closures in Lakewood This Weekend

Father's Day and high school graduation commuters should be aware of the second of four rounds of closures for the Clover Creek project just south of Bridgeport Way.

Lack of Interest in Lakewood City Council Candidacy or Are the Incoming Candidates Strong Enough?

While Paul Bocchi and Marie Barth bring unique qualities to the table, the pair of wide-open seats brought zero competition, a common trend among other cities across Washington state.